As a precaution, make sure that your child does not have access to firearms, and remove other dangerous materials or objects from your home.  

If there is a gun in your home, it must be kept out of reach of your children and their friends.  

The gun must also be kept safe from family members who are depressed, abusive to others or abusing drugs (including alcohol), or who have Alzheimer's disease.  

If there is a gun in your home, keep it unloaded and locked away, separate from the bullets, with the key available only to responsible adults.  

Teenagers often act without thinking first.  When teenagers are angry or depressed, they are more likely to kill themselves or harm themselves or others if they can easily get a gun.  

It's best not to have a gun in your home at all if someone who lives there is depressed or thinking of suicide, or is a troubled teenager.   If you have a gun in your home, you are 5 times more likely to have a suicide in your house than homes without a gun.  An unlocked gun could be the death of your family.    

Get Help  

If you are concerned about your teen possibly committing violence, you need to arrange for him or her to be seen by a qualified mental health professional.  

Look for a child/family mental health professional who is experienced in working with adolescents and their families.   

The goals of treatment typically focus on helping the teen to:

• learn how to control anger
• express anger and frustrations in appropriate ways
• be responsible for his/her actions
• accept consequences
• address family conflicts, school problems, and community issues  

What To Do in an Emergency  

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